Le Mans Series 2007

[canam]

I find it concerning that, according to dsc, Arena can't confirm 'details'.

We have heard Arena talk of many things before, and less than 50% emerge. With both Johannson and Chllton having other driving duties (that partly conflict with LMS dates), is this entry more 'hopeful' than firm?

what is bizarre is that the LMP1 grid is strong despite the regs while the ALMS LMP1 grid is weak despite the help being given for non-diesel cars.

[allyk]

The Racing Box Saleen is prepared by ORECA and leased on a per race basis to Racing Box. This is proabably the "second " ORECA Saleen.

There is also the missing "Lister" and missing second private "Pescarolo" chassis for P1. I feel abit sorry for Lister, considering it is a new car. The old car has been a pretty good supporter of the series given its appearance in various guises since the inaugural race at the Bugatti circuit in 2003. I suppose their appearances have been sporadic with little in terms of hard results - similar to the much loved RFH Dome.

The other missing entry is Pro-tran's proposed LMP2 entry.

[Graham Goodwin]

The piece on dsc last week explained the Lister situation - The extra Pesca P1 effort is most likely the Saulnier racing team

[The359]

Wasn't Debora going to run LMS too?

[JAG]

With the factory Courage LC70's running the improved AER V8 Turbo, Xtrac gearbox and Michelin rubber I'd have to put them down as my pre season favourites, given a decent driver line-up.

Yves belives only a turbo motor can take the fight to the diesels and I tend to agree with him, at least in endurance events.

[canam]

Originally Posted by JAG

Yves belives only a turbo motor can take the fight to the diesels and I tend to agree with him, at least in endurance events.

Dyson clearly had other opinions. The AER has not had the development to compete and, at present, it does not seem to have the power either. In my opinion, Courage is using it because it is cheaper than other options that have a modicum of realiability.

[Dani Filth]

in LMP1 i see Peugeot and Pesca as favorites followed by Swiss Spirit, Courage and Rollcenter

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

in LMP1 i see Peugeot and Pesca as favorites followed by Swiss Spirit, Courage and Rollcenter

I'd agree with you about Pug and Pesca being favourites. But, I'd be tempted to put Rollcentre, Zytek, Creation, RFH and Charouz (in no particular order) ahead of the Swiss Spirit and Courage cars.

I have no doubt that the Swiss Spirit car has great potential, but I reckon it'll be the second half of the season before it's sorted to the point of being able to challenge for podiums.

[The Badger]

I wouldnt bet on Pug being favourites at all . Too new , you can test but , Le Mans is a differant kettle of fish altogether as benz proved a few years back .

[canam]

Pug has got to be favourites. New car? yes but huge budget and excellent driver line-up. Everyone else is too close for me. The 'all-pro' Pesca has a small edge but the new car is sounding like a minor rehash of the 2006 car and other folk (Zytek and Creation) will have moved on. Johannson and Chilton in the Zytek (if it happens) would definitely make life difficult for Pesca while the Creation (on narrow wheels/tyres) was able to hold their own last year. This year they will be on wider tyres with, hopefully, a strong driver line-up.

A lot will come down to the strength of the Pug. Can it take a knock. The Audi R10 looks far more vulnerable than the R8 (Petit and Laguna). The Pug could be similar.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by canam

Creation........with, hopefully, a strong driver line-up.

Question is, will Creation replace Nic with another quick, or will Jamie take over Nic's role in the driver line-up?

[JAG]

Originally Posted by canam

Dyson clearly had other opinions. The AER has not had the development to compete and, at present, it does not seem to have the power either. In my opinion, Courage is using it because it is cheaper than other options that have a modicum of realiability.

I wouldn't judge the AER based on Dysons performances. A development of the much criticised Lola chassis has been flying with Acura in P2 and is good enough for Audi/Swiss Spirit to invest in.

The AER P2 engine is the benchmark in the class, while the P1 version appears to have far more potential, and potential that can be exploited easier, than the atmo opposition.

So much potential with the turbos/electronics/FSI types developments, and it's already reliable.

[Aerodynamic]

Originally Posted by canam

Johannson and Chilton in the Zytek (if it happens) would definitely make life difficult for Pesca while the Creation (on narrow wheels/tyres) was able to hold their own last year. This year they will be on wider tyres with, hopefully, a strong driver line-up.

I think you could find some even quicker driver line-ups in the Zytek than the current SJ/Chilton combo, I think a lot will be revealed in Arena's press release which is due soon.......not so sure about Creation though, lets hope they can field a couple of zippers as well.

[The Badger]

Johansson and Lehto !!!

[canam]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Johansson and Lehto !!!

yes...and who is paying the bills? Lehto doesn't drive for free and Johansson won't bring a budget of any consequence. Without Chilton, this will not get off the ground (unless there is another backer with money). Mike Earle doesn't have the cash and Zytek would not fund it. 'Show me the money!'

[Jed Maxwell]

Who is going to be so brave as to post some predictions for each class then?!!!!!

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Jed Maxwell

Who is going to be so brave as to post some predictions for each class then?!!!!!

That should be a differant thread ..... but i would be so brave

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Jed Maxwell

Who is going to be so brave as to post some predictions for each class then?!!!!!

Okay, bravery time then...

LMP1
17 Pescarolo
7 Peugeot
10 Zytek

Reasoning being Pescarolo will have a slick operation, to say nothing of the benefits of two cars to drive development. Peugeot will take time to get fully up and running and gel as a team. Zytek will have a quick car but may not have the consistency across the whole season or out and out polish as an operation overall to win the title.

LMP2
25 Lola
40 Lola
32 Zytek

It's RML's turn, and if they'd had a modicum more luck the title could have been theirs either of the past two years. ASM look like an utterly solid outfit and all they have to do is perform as well as last year. I've been impressed by the Zytek motor in the Binnie Lola and I suspect the Zytek LMP2 chassis will be a neat package, giving them my vote for third.

GT1
50 Saleen
59 Aston Martin
72 Corvette

Again, professionalism of the outfit probably gives it to Oreca, as well as a suspicion that the Saleen, on a good day, is absolutely as fast as anything out there. Second could go to any of the Aston Martin's, but in the absence of knowing who Larbre (in particular) are going to run I'll go for Modena. Third to the C6R as if they can make it perform anything like as well as P&M can in the US it'll impress lots, and Luc Alphand's managed to build a decent outfit over the last few years.

GT2
98 Ferrari
90 Porsche
82 Panoz

The hardest one to call in my eyes. The top two could swap places perfectly easily, and I suspect the 997 will, long term, have the legs of the 430, but the benefit of a year's development might shade it for Ferrari. LNT have shown they can run competitively and know what's needed to win races but somehow I can't see them matching the best of the Ferraris and Porsches.

I'll enjoy looking at this in 9 months time and seeing how profoundly wrong I was...

[Francesco]

it's still to early... we still don't know what the line up are going to be...

for the "plain" performance i think that at the end of the season it will be like this
-Peugeot
-Pescarolo
-Swiss Spirit

but considering the whole 6 round championship and the developements i think that the point ranking will be
-Pesca
-Peugeot
-Zytek

LMP2
it "should" be RML's time... but... ASM where impressive last year... they are the real champions so i would give them the first spot, followed by RML and Radical
-ASM
-RML
-Radical

GT1
i am still not sure that ORECA has solved all the problems of the S7R, while it's still not clear if Larbre is going to use Pirelli or Michelin.... but IMHO it's going to be whis way
-Saleen
-Alphand C6R
-Team Modena Aston

GT2
When it's Porsche on Michelin against Ferrari on Pirelli i have really few doubts that it will be different from:
-77 Porsche
-76 Porsche
-83 Ferrari

[Nick49]

Hello

LMP1
Pescarolo are still the team to beat even though Peugeot are a factory team.
Rollcentre are a good bet for top honours with years of experience.
Swiss Spirit after their great season in 2006.

With the Peugeot team it could go either way for them, up and running and winning or embarrasment and disaster.

LMP2
RML for just about every and any reason.
Team Bruichladdich Radical because I like the whisky and the car .
Binnie Motorsports.

GT1
Team Oreca Saleen the best GT1 team in the series.
Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 the GT1 team I "supported" last year.
Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R great name, great car.

GT2
GPC Sport Ferrari F430 GT because the Ferrari should be best.
Team LNT Panoz Esperante GTLM having had a years experience.
A Porsche 997 GT3 RSR team.

I would like to say the Spyker Team would be up there somewhere but I can't help feeling the focus (and the money) is now on Formula One!

I can't wait for it all to start at Monza in April. I just wish I could be there in person, now there's a thought

Nick

[Jed Maxwell]

Go on then Badger!

[brielga]

DSC has a good feature on Arena, Chilton and Johansson for LM and some LMS, the rest cut & paste with drivers (potentially including Khartikeyan). A bit of a tight deadline for Monza with the car delivered April 1st....

[isynge]

Originally Posted by brielga

DSC has a good feature on Arena, Chilton and Johansson for LM and some LMS, the rest cut & paste with drivers (potentially including Khartikeyan). A bit of a tight deadline for Monza with the car delivered April 1st....

On balance this doesn't bode enormously well for their season. Undoubtedly the car will be basically sound and fast but...

• Chopping and changing drivers doesn't help. It's more or less a given that driver consistency aids development

• It's an awfully short window before Monza, which says they might well struggle in the early rounds

• If last year's anything to go by, if the car's not ready for the official LMS test then Le Mans entries get difficult - witness the second Rollcentre Radical last year for example

Still, on the upside Arena know what they're doing, and Chilton and Johansson aren't slouches either, so when they appear good things may follow.

[brielga]

Zulltec did not make it to the entry list despite their announcements. What happened to Protran and their rumored LMP2 change? And James Watt Automotive, were they too late or was that fossilized Ferrari so much more attractive to get 1 more GT1 car? Some questions to get through the week....

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Jed Maxwell

Go on then Badger!

OK ... here goes ..... eating my hat !!!

LMP!
1st Pescarolo Sports-Collard-Boullion-P01 Judd GV5.5S2
2nd Peugeot Sports-Minassian-Gene-908 VAP
3rd Charouz Racing-Charouz-Enge-Lola B07/10 Judd GV5.5S2

LMP2
1st Team Horag-Theys-Leinhard-Van De Poele-Lola B07/40 Judd
2nd RML-Newton-Erdos-MG Lola EX264 AER
3rd Binnie Motorsports-Binnie-Timpany-Lola B05/40 Zytek

GT1
1st Larbre Competition-Gardel-TBA-DBR9
2nd Oreca-Ayari-Ortelli-S7R
3rd Luc Alphand-Alphand-Policand-Goueslard-C6R

GT2
1st Felbermayer/Proton-Lieb-Pompidou-997 GT3 RSR
2nd Team LNT-Kimber Smith-Hynes-Panoz GTLM
3rd Imsa-Narac-Lietz-997 GT3 RSR

How about that then ?